The 15 Best Crypto to Buy in 2022

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With so many crypto options to buy today, how do you choose the right one for your investing goals — and one that will lead to profit? 

In this article, we’ll break down the 15 best crypto to buy now so that you can understand:

• Advantages and disadvantages of today’s top crypto
• The current trading price of the best crypto
• Where you can buy the best crypto
• And more

If you’re ready to learn the best crypto to buy now, let’s get started!

Best Crypto to Buy #1: Bitcoin (BTC)

No cryptocurrency list would be complete without Bitcoin, the first digital currency. BTC uses proof of work computation to create secure peer-to-peer transactions. 

BTC is currently trading at $62k with a $1.2 trillion market cap — and controls 45% of the total crypto market cap. 

Bitcoin has no owner or traditional dev team. Instead, BTC relies on its open-source code, first written in 2008 by an anonymous developer known as "Satoshi Nakamoto." The role of monitoring inflation and circulation is written into the code and carried out by blockchain technology.

Bitcoin uses a “proof of work” consensus mechanism to verify transactions and keep the ledger of transactions up to date.

Proof of work validators are known as “miners”. Miners use specialized hardware to solve complex and arbitrary math problems. The miner that guesses the correct answer receives about $380k in Bitcoin (the amount in BTC halves every four years). 

Although most mining operations are running clean energy, proof of work consumes massive amounts of power. Today, there are newer coins that use virtually no energy with near-instant transaction times. 

Despite this, the price of Bitcoin — the original cryptocurrency — continues to rise. 

Best Crypto to Buy #2: Ethereum (ETH)

Next on our list of cryptocurrencies: Ethereum. 

Vitalik Buterin created Ethereum in 2013 to see just how far decentralization could go if dapp developers had a platform and access to ample computing power. 

Today, Ethereum hovers around $4,200 with a market cap of $487.3 billion. 

Like Bitcoin, Ethereum is currently using proof of work (though soon to be changed to a more efficient proof of stake algorithm). 

Where ETH differs from BTC is its ability to create and regulate smart contracts and power dapps. Smart contracts can function like a traditional "if this, then that" contract and dapps can be built on top of them. Dapp developers write the contract and pay ETH to the Etherum network to execute, enforce and verify it. 

Ethereum network dapps allow people to mint and exchange NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), which are similar to deeds to prove ownership. 

Decentralized exchanges (Dexs) use smart contracts to automate:

• peer-to-peer trading 
• pricing
• liquidity 

Ethereum offers utility and security to the decentralized world at a rate that encroaches upon Bitcoinʻs market dominance. 

ETH is the original for smart contracts and dapps — one of the reasons it belongs on our cryptocurrency list.  

Best Crypto to Buy #3: Litecoin

Charlie Lee staked his claim in the cryptocurrency world with the "Silver to Bitcoinʻs gold" — Litecoin. 

Lee created the Bitcoin hard fork not as competition with “Nakamoto”, but as a complementary currency — Store your wealth in gold; Buy dinner with silver. 

Litecoin uses the faster proof of work algorithm that makes LTC like Bitcoin at 4x speed: 

• 4 times faster transaction times 
• 4 times as many coins in circulation 

Many new cryptocurrencies feature exponentially faster coins with barely any fees, smart contracts, and NFT platforms. 

LTC has none of that, but what separates Litecoin from the new kids on the blockchain is its age and reliability: Ten years of uninterrupted network up-time and over ten billion dollars of transactions processed. 

Litecoin might not be thrilling for new investors, but it wasnʻt made for investors; it was made for commerce. 

Best Crypto to Buy #4: Dogecoin (DOGE)

Doge is a coin based around the Shiba, a Japanese dog breed. 

Dogecoin was made as a joke in a single afternoon. To make it even more ridiculous, Doge was created to be intentionally inflationary, with thousands of coins added into circulation every day. 

Before you scroll away from this inflationary meme coin, hereʻs a quick list of what makes Dogecoin so popular for "investors":

1. Doge has a cute dog as a mascot.
2. That dog has a cute catchphrase: "Such fun, much wow." 
3. Dogecoin has a $33 billion dollar market cap ($88 billion at its peak).

Yes, you read that correctly. 

At the height of Doge-mania in June 2021, the coin held a market cap greater than global companies like Ford or Adidas. 

A raving fan base of Redditers and Tiktokers collectively pumped up Doge from a dormant $0.002 up to a peak of $0.68 in only a matter of months.

Dogeʻs only worth is what the people decide it to be, and as their slogan goes, "1 Doge always = 1 Doge." 

What that means in dollars is anyone's guess. So far, itʻs been collectively worth more than a global auto manufacturer. 

Doge is an internet trend, and at least for now, that trend remains. 

Best Crypto to Buy #5: Binance Coin (BNB) 

Binance Coin is created and backed by the world's largest crypto exchange — Binance.com. 

BNB is on this cryptocurrency list because of its ability to link multiple blockchains into one ecosystem. 

The BNB ecosystem allows launch pads for:

• token creation
• NFTs
• dexs
• app/web-based wallet 

BNB is the third largest coin by market cap and frequently comes under fire from crypto zealots due to Binanceʻs centralization of the market. 

BNB is trading at $484 with a market cap of $80 billion. 

You can purchase BNB from Binance.US, Gate.io, and FTX.

Best Crypto to Buy #6: Cardano (ADA) 

Created in 2017 by Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson, Cardano has a price of $2.15 with a $70 billion market cap. 

Cardano uses a quick and energy-efficient proof of stake (POS) consensus mechanism to secure its network. Cardano is best known for efficient smart contract systems that are cheaper to create than its ETH competitor.

Cardanoʻs low fees and easy platform make it a strong ETH competitor.

You can buy ADA on Binance, Kraken, and Coinbase.

Best Crypto to Buy #7: Tether (USDT) 

Compared to other cryptocurrencies on this list, Tether is always equal to one US dollar. 

USDT, which has a market cap of $69.6 billion, is commonly used to store money between trades and can be swapped from other coins to lock in gains rather than selling to fiat. 

Tether has seen quite a bit of controversy. Just like its US dollar equivalent, USDT has been accused of "printing" money without holding anything in reserve. 

Something to keep in mind: Tether has declined to show proof of its funding and may soon come under investigation by the SEC or face regulation from Congress.

Despite the controversy, stablecoins like USDT play a major role in quick and easy crypto trades. 

Best Crypto to Buy #8: Solana (SOL)

Solana is currently trading at $195 with a $59B market cap. 

SOL is a direct ETH competitor that allows for the creation of:

• dapps 
• defi
• dexs
• NFT platforms
• games

SOL further reinforces its network through proof of stake and proof of history. 

Solanaʻs doubly reinforced consensus mechanism allows for lightning-fast transaction times even under heavy network pressure, perfect for institutional use. 

However, SOL is only about a year old and has yet to see ETH or ADA's adoption rate. 

SOL lacks the user base of Ethereum, but its tech is groundbreaking, which is why itʻs on this cryptocurrency list.

You can purchase SOL on Binance, Coinbase, and FTX.

Best Crypto to Buy #9: XRP (XRP) 

XRP uses a distributed ledger system instead of blockchain tech to make transactions instant and nearly free. 

Today, XRP is trading at $1.10, with a $51.7 billion market cap. 

XRP is the sleeping dragon of crypto that once held the second-largest market cap. 

Ripple, the creators of XRP, are under an ongoing lawsuit with the SEC for the sale of an unlicensed security. Why XRP is a security while ETH, ADA, and every other crypto are classified as currency is a mystery, even to Ripple. 

XRPʻs instant transaction times could save big banks millions, and for that it makes our top cryptocurrency list.

Due to the ongoing litigation, XRP is unavailable for purchase on most US markets but is available on Crypto.com and Kucoin.

Best Crypto to Buy #10: Polkadot (DOT)

As a late entrant to the race, Polkadot has gained a lot of traction in the crypto community.

DOT is currently trading at $37 with a $34 billion market cap. 

This cryptocurrency seeks to link multiple blockchains into one network for easier dapp and NFT development. 

DOT runs on a parallelized proof of stake consensus mechanism that makes it much more energy-efficient than POW systems like Bitcoin. 

You can purchase DOT on Kraken, Binance, and Coinbase Pro

Best Crypto to Buy #11: Chainlink (LINK)

Chainlink is an Ethereum token that allows for the connection of real-world data to smart contracts.

With a $5.3 billion market cap, LINK is currently trading at $11.25, Chainlink is one of the most popular Ethereum tokens and has even been adopted by Google as a data source for its BigQuery service. 

Chainlink oracles are used in: 

• defi protocols 
• NFT platforms 
• dapps

Chainlinkʻs real-world data integration allows for more complex contracts and could eventually lead to the mass adoption of blockchain technology. 

You can purchase LINK on Binance, Kraken, and Coinbase Pro.

Best Crypto to Buy #12: Bitcoin Cash (BCH)

Bitcoin Cash is a fork of Bitcoin that was created to address the speed and scalability issues plaguing Bitcoin. 

Today, BCH is trading at $283.87 with a market cap of $5.4 billion. 

BCH allows for faster transactions than Bitcoin and functions as a store of value that can be transferred between two people instantly. 

Bitcoin Cash does not have the same level of development as its parent coin, but it is undoubtedly the best crypto to buy now if you want to invest in Bitcoin's future. 

You can purchase BCH on Binance, Coinbase Pro, and Kraken.

Best Crypto to Buy #13: Monero (XMR)

Monero is an anonymous cryptocurrency that has taken extra measures to ensure the obfuscation of user data.  

Today, Monero is trading at $207.92 with a $4.3 billion market cap. 

Monero is one of the oldest privacy coins on the market and has attracted users that value their financial privacy. 

In addition to private transactions, XMR will also launch a decentralized exchange called DEXON this year. 

You can purchase XMR on Binance, Bitfinex, and Kucoin.

Best Crypto to Buy #14: Ethereum Classic (ETC) 

Unlike Etheruem or Ethereum Classic (ETC), ETC was not created after a hard fork, which means it is not backed by the Ethereum Foundation. 

ETC is another privacy coin like Monero, but unlike XMR, ETC does not offer private transactions by default. 

Instead, ETC uses the zk-SNARK protocol to provide users with an optional layer of privacy for their transactions.  

ETC is currently trading at $27 with a market cap of $3.8 billion. 

Despite its smaller size, ETC has a passionate following and an active development team. 

Ethereum Classic is one of the best cryptos to buy now if you are looking for an undervalued coin with a lot of upside potential. 

You can purchase ETC on Binance, Coinbase Pro, and Kraken.

Best Crypto to Buy #15: Zcash (ZEC) 

Zcash is one of the most popular anonymous cryptocurrencies on the market and currently trades for around $121 with a total supply of 1.7 Billion Market Cap. 

Like Monero and Ethereum Classic, ZCash offers different levels of transparency depending on user preference and will soon be launching its own DEXON platform that aims to disrupt centralized exchanges like Binance. 

You can purchase ZEC on Binance, Coinbase Pro, and Bitfinex. 

Remember These Advantages and Disadvantages of Cryptocurrency…

Cryptocurrencies are a new and exciting way to invest your money, but they come with their own set of pros and cons.

Let's take a brief look at the advantages and disadvantages of investing in cryptocurrencies.

Advantages of Buying Cryptocurrency Today 

• Cryptocurrencies are digital and therefore cannot be counterfeited or double-spent. 
• Transactions are pseudo-anonymous, meaning that while user data is publicly available on the blockchain, it is difficult to trace those transactions back to a specific individual. 
• Cryptocurrencies are borderless and can be sent and received by anyone with an internet connection. 
• Many cryptocurrencies offer a degree of anonymity that is not available in traditional banking systems. 
• Transaction fees are typically much lower for cryptocurrency than for fiat currency. 

Disadvantages of Buying Cryptocurrency Today 

• The value of cryptocurrencies is highly volatile and can swing wildly from day to day. 
• Cryptocurrencies are not backed by any government or central bank, which makes them more vulnerable to market fluctuations. 
• Cryptocurrency exchanges are often targeted by hackers, leading to the theft of user funds and data. 
• Regulatory uncertainty around cryptocurrency remains a significant barrier for many investors. 

The Bottom Line: Best Crypto to Buy

There you have it: the best crypto to buy today. 

As it has in the past, cryptocurrency will become more refined and leave a dusty trail of forgotten hyped-up coins.

Trading off of this kind of sentiment is fickle at best — and is not recommended. However, you can shield yourself from volatility (and increase your chances of a profit) by knowing what makes one type of cryptocurrency different from the next using this best crypto to buy list.